Is There A SPOT In Your Future For A Personal GPS Tracking Device?

Image by Severin Sadjina via Flickr Are you an outdoor adventurer that loves to talk about where your travels are taking you, just as much as you enjoy exploring new frontiers? Maybe you're just a concerned individual that takes comfort into knowing the whereabouts of your loved ones and that they're safe. In either case, a SPOT just might be a little piece of technology that can help you stay in touch with others.

What is a SPOT and how does it work?

SPOT is a feature packed personal GPS tracking device that's small enough to fit into your pocket. While cell phones are often plagued with poor coverage in remote areas, SPOT communicates over satellite, keeping you connected with friends and family from virtually anywhere in the world. Several models of SPOT such as the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger, SPOT Personal Tracker, SPOT HUG, Intrinsically Safe SPOT, and the Delorme PN-60W Communicator, are available to choose from and include many features ranging from:

• SOS - For life threatening or other critical emergencies
• Help - For non-life threatening emergencies
• Check-in/OK - Let your friends and family know that all is OK with a pre-programmed message along with your GPS location
• Custom Message - Let your friends and family receive a custom message along with your GPS location
• Track Progress - Send and save your location, letting contacts track your progress in near real time using Google Maps
• Facebook - Share your GPS location and message on Facebook
• Twitter - Share your GPS location and message on Twitter
• And more...

What value does a SPOT have for me?

Whether you're into hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, sailing, or virtually any other outdoor activity, SPOT places a personal GPS tracking device right in your pocket. Use SPOT to relay GPS coordinates to 911 services in the event of an emergency, send custom messages back to friends and family, or track your route on Google Maps for others to follow in near real time. SPOT can also be used as a personal safety device for children so that parents can feel more assured that their kids are safe and remain located where they are supposed to be.

For a small price along with an annual service fee, why not slip a SPOT into your pocket and keep friends an family informed about your location through email and SMS, map your adventure on Google Maps in near real time, or post your GPS coordinates to your Facebook and Twitter accounts for others to follow.

Are you interested in getting a SPOT? If so, how would you use a SPOT?

Stay Safe During Thanksgiving Weekend

With Thanksgiving weekend being one of the busiest weekends of the duning season, it's more important than ever to practice safe duning.

Last year 185,000 people visited the dunes during Thanksgiving weekend and this year the expected turnout is between 175,000 and 200,000. As always, with that large of a turnout, there is always increased chance of accidents.

Unfortunately, there has already been one report of a fatality out in Glamis, CA. It was reported that a 47 year old man from Benicia, California was fatally injured as he rode his motorcycle up Oldsmobile Hill. The CHP reports that the rider lost control of the bike by accelerating too fast, causing the bike to flip over backwards onto the rider. An investigation of the collision is pending.

The ASA board recommends observing the following while around any location where a large crowd occurs, such as the sand drags:

→ The law everywhere in the dunes is 15 mph within 50 feet of people or camp.

→ As a spectator, you must stay back a safe distance from the action.

→ Spectator lines must be at least 200 feet apart, 100 feet for the drag strip and 50 feet on each side for the required safety zone.

→ Do not narrow the distance between the spectator lines to see better. This places you in the path of the drag vehicles when they are at their highest speed.

→ Do not rely on spectator vehicles for your sole protection. Out-of-control vehicles can flip over parked vehicles.

→ Plan escape paths and always be on the alert to get out of the way of an out-of-control vehicle.

→ Keep children out of harm's way, behind barriers and as protected as possible.

→ Don't encroach into the run-out or return lanes.

→ Pay attention to your surroundings.

→ Encourage others to act as responsible spectators. Don't be afraid to ask someone to act appropriately.

→ As drivers, it is your ultimate responsibility to control speed and distance.

→ If the crowd is too close, or you can't see the end of the course ... don't launch the vehicle.

→ Keep the racing short. Competitive drags are 100 yards ... not a 1/4 mile long.

→ Use run-out area for slow down ... not for show-off.

→ Return-lane speed must also obey the 15 mph/50-foot rule.

→ Be sober. DUI laws always apply.

→ Flying starts at the drags are a recipe for disaster.

→ Responsible duners never approach a jump without a spotter.

→ Wheelies limit the driver's vehicle control.

→ Take your driving responsibilities deadly serious.

→ Respect BLM and other enforcement personnel.

With all that said, please stay safe out there and enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend in the dunes!

Win a Buckshot Racing Sand Car

Support the ASA and win a brand new Monster Energy SX-5 by Buckshot Racing.

Make sure to get your raffle ticket for this awesome Buckshot Racing Sand Car. Tickets are $20 each and all proceeds benefit the ASA general fund. Must be 18yrs or older to enter and win.

Sponsors of this incredible sand eating machine include:

Buckshot Racing - Monster Energy - Rancho Performance Transaxles - PBS Transmissions - King Shock Technology - CBM Motorsports - Summit Steel - Weddle Industries - Gear One - IMZZ Industries -Xtreme Tire - Central Powder Coating - Twisted Stich - Reach - Hannemann Fiberglass Inc. - Douglas Wheel Technology - GTR Clutch - Kartek Off-Road - Gibson Performance Exhaust - St Clair Insurance -CBR Performance Products - Toy Box Covers - Napa Auto Parts - DJ Safety Inc. - Livorsi - West Coast Batteries - Vision X - Lat Oil

If you'd like to buy a ticket for this raffle, please send mail orders and checks to: Buckshot Buggy Raffle, P.O. Box 1872,Canyon Country, CA 91386

or Call: 888-540-SAND

Winners need not be present to win. For more information, please visit the ASA website at www.asasand.com

The drawing will be held at the Sand Sports Super Show on September 18th, 2011. Winners do not need to be present to win.

El Cajon Off-Road Show This Weekend

The 2010 Off Road Expo is returning to Westfield Parkway in El Cajon.

Saturday, October 23:
Vehicle displays, 10am-9pm
Exhibit booths open, 12pm-7pm

Sunday, October 24:
Vehicle displays, 11am-7pm
Exhibit booths open, 12pm-5pm

If you're not in the desert, then make sure to get down there and see all the Off Road Vehicles including Jeeps, ATVs, Trucks, Dirtbikes, Buggies and more.

Event partners: Motoworld of El Cajon and M.I.T. Drivetrain Specialists.

2010 Exhibitors

ATV Safety Institute
Baja Bumpers
Cycle Parts West
D & E Innovations
Doetsch Enterprises
East County Gazette
East County Magazine
El Cajon Fire Department
Express Performance Center
Garvin Industries
M.I.T. DriveTrain Specialists
Motoworld of El Cajon
Powder1
PU-Products
San Diego Off Road Coalition
San Diego Ride Concepts
SCAR Off Road
Scribs Performance
Sears Loss Prevention
US Wheel Repair and Polish

El Cajon, CA Off Road Expo 2010
http://westfield.com/parkway/specialoffers/2010OffRoadExpo.html

Duners Checkered Flag Program

Dune season is upon us and as a responsible duner, I urge you to stop and take a minute to not only think about safty, but help spread the message to other duners. The Checkered Flag program helps endorse the responsiblity of respecting others and the environment. Make sure you fly your checkered flag proudly and show all the other duners that you dune with respect for others, for safty, and for the environment.

As a reminder, there are a few new rules that will be enforced in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area this season. For example, duners are not allowed to burn wood that contains metal, so leave your pallets at home. Public nudity is also not permitted. This is a family sport and nudity is not appropriate in public so please keep your laundry on your body while in public. Lastly, trash still remains an issue, especially around the popular gathering areas such as Oldsmobile Hill, Competition Hill, and Test Hill over at Gordons Well. Please be responsible for your trash and pack out what you pack in. Make sure to stop and take a look at the full listing of new rules located at http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd/cdd_supplementary.html

Have a safe and fun-filled 2010-2011 season, and don't forget to help promote responsible duning. The American Sand Association is offering a free checkered flag and pledge card with purchase online.

More information about the Checkered Flag Program can be found on the aSa webiste. http://www.americansandassociation.org/pages.php?pageid=8

~Razor

The US Border Patrol wants your help

Hey Duners, the US Border Patrol is asking for your help in the reporting of illegal activities. You are urged to help by reporting any and all suspicious activities. USBP Agents provide continuous patrol and may be contacted in person or by phone (866-999-8727) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You can also help protect the border by maintaining a minimum distance of 100 yards from the International Boundary Fence. Not only is it a safety hazard to ride near the International Border Fence, but staying clear of the fence helps the US Border Patrol to spot criminal activities. Please stay back.

A white USBP trailer will be parked near the Bureau of Land Management Ranger Station in the Buttercup campground and is a great place to report suspicious activities or simply just ask some questions.

Please enjoy your 2010-2011 dune season and if you happen to spot any suspicious activities, stop and find a US Border Patrol Agent and report them at once.

~Razor

King Shocks Dune Tune 2010

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY


Friday, November 12th and Saturday, November 13th from 9:00am to 5:00pm adjacent to the Glamis Beach Store and Glamis Fab, King Shocks will be performing a tuning session for sand cars only.
The tuning session will run $150 plus any additional parts needed. King experts will not be working on any cars so it's up to you to remove your own shocks at your campsite and bring only the shocks back over to the King trailer. If you don't wish to remove your shocks yourself, then Glamis Fab will remove and replace your shocks during your session for $50.00 per corner.


Call King Shocks at 714-530-8701 to schedule the time and date of your session.

For more information about the King Shocks Dune Tune 2010, please visit the King Shocks website.

SandRazor Gets A Face-lift

SandRazor.com is under construction!

Image via Wikipedia

For all of the dedicated SandRazor fans out there, I know it's been a long time since you've seen any major changes to the website and some of you might have even wondered if the site was even still being maintained. Basically, five years ago, I cracked the frame on the sandrail and honestly, it just hasn't been a priority to spend money replacing it. One of these days I'll hopefully get around to giving it some well deserved attention. Anyhow, I assure you, while SandRazor.com might have seemed abandoned, it wasn't and it's not. I've been spending a lot of time lately, working on the next version of the site. The obvious change, which I'm sure you've noticed, is the new brown colors that have replaced the old blue ones. I've also removed the forum as it was no longer being used for any valid reasons and the only new posts seemed to be from friendly spammers promoting Viagra. Forget them! In place of the forum, I've added this blog which I will be using to keep everyone updated with the latest desert news. I also completely restructured the photo gallery. Check it out, you might even find a few photos that have never been featured on SandRazor before. Also, if you haven't already, make sure to check out the video section. I haven't added any new ones lately but they're the only known videos on the Internet that contain vintage water-pumper buggies from the 1960's. If you happen to know of any other site with vintage sand buggy information, let me know. In fact, use the new contact page to drop me a note. I'd also love to hear what you think of the new website.
Please enjoy the refreshed version of SandRazor.com and bare with me as I continue to improve the site.

Thanks
~Razor